Govt says time not ripe for Air India disinvestment
The statement comes as Air India widened its net loss in FY19 despite the fact that it received the second-largest capital infusion from the govt in the last 5 years

New Delhi: In view of volatile crude prices and adverse fluctuations in exchange rates, the present environment is not conducive to stimulate interest among investors for the strategic disinvestment of Air India in the near future, Minister for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri said on Thursday. The ministry, therefore, is likely to take up the issue once global economic indicators, including oil prices and forex indicators, stabilise, Puri added.
While furnishing a written response to a question in the Lok Sabha, Puri reiterated, “The government remains committed to the disinvestment of Air India.” He added that the Air India Specific Alternative Mechanism (AISAM) has approved the contours for the sale of subsidiaries of Air India and has directed to expedite the sale of Air India Air Transport Services Ltd (AIATSL).